英语听书《白鲸记》第591期

 　　Some harpooneers will consume almost an entire morning in this business,  有些标枪手简直把整个早晨的工夫都花在绕索子上，

　　carrying the line high aloft and then reeving it downwards¹ through a block towards the tub, 他们把索子拎得高高，然后把它往下穿过一个辘轳，朝小桶不住地绕，

　　so as in the act of coiling to free it from all possible wrinkles and twists. 这样绕法，索子就不会打结和纠缠在一起。

　　In the English boats two tubs are used instead of one; the same line being continuously coiled in both tubs. 在英国人的小艇上，用的不是一只而是两只小桶；他们把这种绳子不住地绕进两只小桶。

　　There is some advantage in this;  这样做法，有些好处；

　　because these twin-tubs being so small they fit more readily into the boat, and do not strain it so much;  因为这一对桶子很小，可以更容易地把它们安在小艇里，不必费多大的力气；

　　whereas, the American tub, nearly three feet in diameter and of proportionate depth, 反之，美国人那种小桶，直径近三英尺，深度也相仿佛，

　　makes a rather bulky freight for a craft whose planks² are but one-half inch in thickness;  给小艇增加了不少负担，因为一只捕鲸小艇的船板也不过一英寸半厚，

　　for the bottom of the whale-boat is like critical ice, 它的艇底有如一层薄冰，

　　which will bear up a considerable distributed weight, but not very much of a concentrated one. 虽然经得起相当大的分散重量，却经不住很大的集中重量。

　　When the painted canvas cover is clapped on the american line-tub,  如果把一张漆布盖在美国的捕鲸索桶上，

　　the boat looks as if it were pulling off with a prodigious³ great wedding-cake to present to the whales. 那只小艇就好象是在装着一块庞大的结婚蛋糕去送给大鲸了。

　　Both ends of the line are exposed; 索子两头都露在外面；

　　the lower end terminating in an eye-splice or loop coming up from the bottom against the side of the tub,  下边的一头打着一只活结，从桶底沿着桶边蜿蜒而上，

　　and hanging over its edge completely disengaged from everything. 完全无牵无挂地挂在桶边。

　　This arrangement of the lower end is necessary on two accounts. 下边的一头所以要这样处理法，有两个必要的理由:

1 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。

2 planks   

（厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点

参考例句：

• The house was built solidly of rough wooden planks. 这房子是用粗木板牢固地建造的。
• We sawed the log into planks. 我们把木头锯成了木板。

3 prodigious   

adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的

参考例句：

• This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。
• He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。